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<em>Thomas L. Sherburne</em>, Major General, United States Army, died 6 December 1986 in Carmel, California at the age of 81. A lot of wind has blown through the bugle since he was born to a Cavalry family on 27 July 1905 in Manila, the Philippines, the eldest of a family of five. After attendance at a number of schools, including one year at Michigan State University, he attended the United States Military Academy, graduating in 1928.</p>
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Always an accomplished sportsman, he was captain of the tennis team and an All-American soccer player while at West Point. Tommy also participated in two Hundredth Night Shows. Early on he showed not only the military professionalism but also the mental, moral and physical prowess for anything the powers that be wished to throw his way. This, coupled with his ready, quick wit and friendliness, disarmed all.</p>
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His first assignment after graduation was to Fort Benjamin Harrison where he would stay for three years. From then on movement and variety prevailed. Next came the Infantry School at Fort Benning. Then it was on to the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill in September 1933. His own story was that the Artillery offered better horses for polo. So the Infantry’s loss became the Artillery’s gain. After graduation and three months with the CCC, Tommy returned to the land of his birth, at Fort Stotsenberg, Philippine Islands, for duty with the Philippine Scouts. He became aide to Lieutenant General John L. DeWitt in December 1936 and served with him until transfer, with General DeWitt, to the Army War College.</p>
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Leaving Manila, Tommy and a friend, P. Willy Brown (Captain) wrangled permission to ship their car to Saigon and to drive from there, by whatever possible route, to Europe; proceeding from there by ship to New York City. The trip was a highlight of his experiences, especially going through a war in the Kyber Pass, and then being held under guard on the border of Persia (Iran) until rescued by the provincial governor.</p>
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In December 1939 Tommy was transferred to the Presidio of San Francisco, still on duty as aide to General DeWitt. After twelve years almost to the day as a bachelor, Tommy married Patricia, daughter of retired Colonel and Mrs. I.H. Engleman, in the Presidio Chapel. In 1950 he attended the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, returning to the Presidio as Assistant G-4, Fourth Army in January 1941. Their first child, daughter Sharon, was born.</p>
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It was then that his travels really began: to San Jose, then to Camp Roberts in Central California as Field Artillery battalion commander for desert training with Nathan Bedford Forrest’s “git there fustest with the mostest” 181st National Guard Unit. Then Jacksonville, Florida and temporary duty in England as U.S. Representative for Deception Plan, Pas de Calais, and then to the Pentagon for two months in the Operational Division of the General Staff to implement that portion of U.S. involvement. Then back to England on the Aquitania to the VII Corps, as Corps G-2, for the planning of D-Day operations. While in England he ran into Tony McAuliffe who said they needed an artillery-type in the 101st. He said fine, made his first and only parachute jump before combat, and thereby became Airborne—all the way!</p>
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After transferring to the 101st Airborne Division as the Division Artillery executive officer, he was to become one of the primary leaders and proponents of airborne warfare in our country. He continued to espouse and advance the airborne concept of operations for the remainder of his career.</p>
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He parachuted into Normandy in the dark early hours of D-Day with a division headquarters stick. He again parachuted into combat on 17 September 1944 as part of the ill-fated Market Garden—A Bridge Too Far—which was to liberate the southern provinces of Holland.</p>
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Again, this time as commander of Division Artillery, he fought the Battle of Bastogne where the division was to win the first division Presidential Unit Citation in the Army during the Battle of the Bulge. Here again he distinguished himself despite the cold and snow; those in the Infantry saw him often. He continued in this assignment until the end of the hostilities which culminated for the division in the seizure of Berchtesgaden. Tommy returned to West Point in December 1945 with General Maxwell D. Taylor where he became commanding officer, Special Regiment, USMA.</p>
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In 1948 Tommy was assigned to Fort Meade, Maryland, as Second Army G-3. He spent five months in Arabia with a Navy and Air Force group. Back in the U.S. their second child, Thomas L. Sherburne III, was born. It was then on to the 82nd Division Artillery at Fort Bragg where he was promoted to brigadier general in 1950.</p>
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In 1952 he went to Korea as I Corps Artillery commanding general. As the Korean War ended he was chief of staff to General Taylor, commander of I Corps. Returning to Fort Carson, Colorado in 1953, Tommy commanded in turn the 31st Division Artillery, the 8th Infantry Division Artillery and finally the 8th Infantry Division. He was then assigned as Army G-l, Personnel, in Washington where he received his second star. From there he went to Fort Campbell, Kentucky to reactivate and command the 101st Airborne Division in January 1956. The 101st was designated as the test organization for the new pentomic organization, and Tommy was to call this his greatest and most challenging assignment. Tommy’s reputation for punctuality, never late for anything, produced a small drama for those in attendance at his farewell review of the 101st. With everyone in position, the troops at attention—and no Sherburne on the reviewing stand—a small plane appeared overhead from which a single jumper emerged. Tommy landed perfectly, jumped up onto the stand and took his last review.</p>
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His next assignment was to Heidelberg, Germany as G-3, US Army Europe, then deputy commanding general, Seventh US Army and finally back to the Presidio of San Francisco as deputy commander, Sixth Army. He retired in 1960 as a major general after 32 years of service.</p>
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For his service Tommy had been awarded the Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster; Distinguished Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Commendation Medal; American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars for participation in Normandy, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe campaigns; World War II Victory Medal; Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp; National Defense Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Korean Service Medal; Korean Service Medal with two bronze service stars for participation in Third Korean Winter and Summer-Fall 1953 campaigns; the Distinguished Unit Emblem with one Oak Leaf Cluster. His foreign awards included the French Croix de Guerre with Palm, the Belgian Fourragere (1940), the British Most Excellent Order of British Empire Honorary Commander and the Netherlands Bronze Lion. He also received the United Nations Service Medal and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Badge.</p>
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Tommy was the epitome of the true soldier who was recognized by all for his leadership in peace as well as war. His was a busy life; he made it so. His chain of assignments bespeak the recognition by his peers and commanders of his capabilities for innovation, organization, and command. Tommy steadfastly held to the adage that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But if there was a problem he was relentless in seeking a resolution but wise enough to move on to the next situation if effort was to be expended foolishly. He also believed that “a swinging gate don’t rust;” his zest for a full and active life was evident till just before his death. He had the knack for getting people to work together as a team, not as individual stars. He wasn’t a sitter and contemplator, but a doer. He liked to jump out of airplanes, ride horses, jump horses, play polo, play tennis, dance—anything to keep moving. With all that energy, he was a man of infinite patience with people, children, dogs, everybody and everything; a type-A person, but very mild-mannered and gentle.</p>
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Tommy’s zest for life continued after his military retirement. Living in the south bay area of San Francisco, he was engaged in work with the Laboratory for Electronics commuting to Boston, Data Dynamics, Inc., commuting to Monterey and Santa Barbara. Their third child, son Adam, was born at Letterman Hospital in 1962. Tommy served as assistant board chairman of Data Dynamics for two and a half years, and the family moved to Pebble Beach in 1964.</p>
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After full retirement, Tommy was still busy as a member of The Old Carmel; an active member of the Retired Officers Association; and the president of the local West Point society. His interest in competitive tennis extended through all his retirement years, and he was named to the Super Seniors Tennis Hall of Fame in 1984, having won two National Singles (over 65) titles. He was an active member and participant in tennis activities at the Pebble Beach, Beach and Tennis Club and the Carmel Valley Racquet Club.</p>
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Tommy is survived by his wife, Patty, in Carmel, California; a daughter, Mrs. D.J. Kilpatrick III, of Honolulu, Hawaii; and two sons, T. L. Sherburne III of Chico, California and Adam C. Sherburne of Carmel, California. Tommy Sherburne will be well remembered; he covered a full court, served many an ace, and never complained of a call.</p>
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